About this template
Will – a complete template package for those who wish to document how their estate should be distributed in accordance with Swedish law. The package includes a main Swedish template in Word and PDF, an English language version under Swedish law, and detailed user guides in both languages.
Legally reviewed: October 6, 2026
The review covers, among other things, the Swedish Inheritance Code's rules on testamentary capacity, formal requirements, witnesses, statutory share (laglott), revocation, service of the will, and estate executors, as well as relevant rules on separate property.
Included in the package
| Testamente – svenska DOCX | Editable main template for an individual will. |
| Testamente – svenska PDF | Print-friendly version. |
| Will – Swedish law DOCX | English language version under Swedish law. |
| Will – Swedish law PDF | Print-friendly English language version. |
| Svensk användarguide – DOCX + PDF | Step-by-step guidance with a witness checklist and practical examples. |
| English user guide – DOCX + PDF | English guidance for use under Swedish law. |
Important: the template does not automatically become a valid will
Validity depends on more than just the content. An ordinary Swedish will must be drawn up in accordance with the formal requirements of the Inheritance Code: it must be in writing, the testator must sign the document or acknowledge their signature in the presence of two simultaneously present witnesses, and the witnesses must then sign. The witnesses must know that the document is a will, but they do not need to know its content.
The template is therefore a general documentation aid. It provides clear fields and instructions but cannot guarantee validity in an individual case.
What the will template helps you regulate
The main template is modular, allowing you to use the sections that fit your situation. It includes, among other things:
- testator identity details and family overview,
- provisions for specific assets or monetary amounts,
- distribution of the remaining estate in shares,
- alternative beneficiaries if a beneficiary passes away before the testator,
- optional clauses regarding separate property,
- the ability to specify how returns on and property substituting for the inheritance should be treated,
- voluntary appointment of an estate executor,
- additional instructions and special conditions,
- separate signature and witness section with space for two witnesses,
- optional note on where the original is stored.
Formal requirements – execute the witnessing correctly
The two witnesses to the will must be present at the same time when the testator signs or confirms their signature. The witnesses must then sign. Witness eligibility is important: certain next-of-kin and persons who benefit from the will may not witness the relevant disposition, and there are also age and suitability requirements.
The guide includes a specific witness checklist. This template is intended for an ordinary written will; special rules regarding emergency wills are not treated as the primary method in the package.
Statutory share (laglott) – important if you have children
According to the Inheritance Code, children and other forced heirs have a right to a "laglott" (statutory share), which corresponds to half of the inheritance they would have received without a will. A testamentary provision that infringes upon the statutory share is not necessarily automatically invalid, but a forced heir may request an adjustment. This right must normally be asserted within six months from the service of the will.
The template and guide therefore help the user address the issue of the statutory share, but complex family situations should be assessed individually.
Spouses, cohabitants, and children from previous relationships
The order of inheritance differs depending on family circumstances. A surviving spouse may have far-reaching inheritance rights, whereas a cohabitant (sambo) has no general legal inheritance right after their partner. Children from previous relationships (särkullbarn) can also affect how the inheritance is distributed.
This product is a broad, individual will template. In cases involving children from previous relationships, large asset values, companies, foreign real estate, or special inheritance planning, a more specialized template or individual legal advice may be appropriate.
Separate property
The will can be used to stipulate that property received by a beneficiary shall be their separate property. The package also distinguishes between the property itself, property that replaces it, and its returns, as these issues are not always treated identically without express conditions.
Estate executor
There is an optional clause for an estate executor. According to the Inheritance Code, an estate executor can be commissioned to manage the administration of the estate and carry out the will. The role entails significant responsibility and should not be appointed casually.
Amending or revoking the will
A will can be revoked. An addendum or an amendment intended to function as a new testamentary provision normally needs to meet the formal requirements of a will. The guide recommends clear version control and ensuring that old originals are not left behind in a way that creates uncertainty regarding the testator's last will.
After the death – service of the will and deadlines
The guide provides an overview of how the will is handled after death, including service of the will to heirs, forced heirs' ability to request an adjustment to the statutory share, and the deadline for filing a claim of invalidity. The will or a certified copy must also be handled in connection with the estate inventory (bouppteckning) when a will exists.
Decided rule change from January 1, 2027
For legal entities that acquire agricultural property through a will, extended requirements for acquisition permits under the land acquisition legislation apply from January 1, 2027. This is a special issue mainly relevant when the beneficiary is, for example, a company, an association, or another legal entity, and the estate includes agricultural property.
Proposal for a will registry and digital wills
There is a government inquiry proposal regarding, among other things, a voluntary public will registry and digital wills. As of the date of the legal review, this is not currently applicable law. The package is therefore based on the rules that are actually in effect and does not rely on a future registry or digital will existing.
Swedish + English in the same package
Swedish is the main version. The English version is an English-language version governed by Swedish law and can be practical when the testator, family members, or advisors work in English. It should not be perceived as a British, American, or universal international will.
Do you want the English version as the main product? See Will – Swedish Law →
Detailed user guides included
The guides go through how each main section is filled out and explain, among other things, formal requirements, selection of witnesses, statutory share, separate property, estate executors, revocation, storage, and what should be done after a death. They also contain examples, common mistakes, and situations where a lawyer should be consulted.
When the template is suitable – and when you should seek help
The template is primarily suitable for private individuals who want to draw up an individual will according to Swedish law and who want a structured foundation with clear choices and instructions.
Individual legal advice is particularly appropriate in cases of international connections, large or complicated assets, companies or generational shifts, agricultural or forestry properties, complex issues involving children from previous relationships, coordination with previous wills, suspicion of future disputes, or questions regarding the testator's capacity.
File formats and delivery
Format: DOCX, PDF, and ZIP.
Language: Swedish and English.
Number of files: 8.
Delivery: digital download. No physical product is shipped.
Common questions
Must an ordinary will be witnessed?
Yes, an ordinary written will must follow the Inheritance Code's witness formalities. Two eligible witnesses must be simultaneously present when the testator signs or confirms their signature, and the witnesses must sign the will.
Must the witnesses read the will?
No. They must know that the document is a will, but they do not need to know the content.
Can I disinherit my children from their statutory share (laglott)?
Forced heirs have a right to a statutory share. A will can contain a provision that affects the statutory share, but the forced heir may request an adjustment to receive their share within the statutory deadline.
Does my cohabitant (sambo) inherit automatically?
No, cohabitants do not have general legal inheritance rights after one another. A will is therefore often particularly relevant for cohabitants, but the Cohabitation Act's (sambolagen) rules on property division may simultaneously affect the financial situation.
Can I use the English version in Sweden?
The English version is designed as a language version under Swedish law. In cases of international connections or foreign assets, choice of law and international inheritance law should be reviewed specifically.
The template package is a general documentation aid and does not replace individual legal advice. A will must both be correctly designed for the specific situation and drawn up with the applicable formal requirements.
